A record number of over 400 LGBTI candidates are standing in elections for public office in the United states, according to the Victory Institute. The nonprofit group supports leadership campaigns within the lesbian, gay, bisexualand transgender community. Sean Meloy, the political director of the Institute, told Reuters: “It’s a really exciting time… We believe that representation is power and when someone is in the room and helping to make decisions, they will automaticaly bring an LGBTQ perspective.”